Hypodermic syringe



June 14, 1966 P. DICK 3,255,752

HYPODERMIC SYRINGE Filed Jan. 28. 1965 INVENTOR P5752 .Z7/ K lfwzza 8 mm ATTORNEY United States Patent O 3,255,752 HYPODERMIC SYRHNGE Peter Dick, 225 W. 232nd St, New York, N.Y. Filed Jan. 28, 1965, Ser. No. 428,824 6 Claims. (Cl. 128218) This application is a continuation-impart of my copending application Serial No. 191,689, filed April 30, 1962.

This invention relates to a hypodermic syringe and particularly to a disposable hypodermic syringe, and more particularly to a hypodermic syringe having a plurality of compartments for the storage or metering of the injectable preparation or ingredients thereof.

It is well-known in the art to have a hypodermic syringe containing the injection liquid, in order to avoid aspirating the liquid from an ampule into a hypodermic syringe prior to the injection. This avoids an unnecessary transfer of the liquid with its danger of contamination or infection of the contents. The syringe may be discarded when the contents have been injected.

- In preparing certain of these hypodermic syringes, the cylindrical container is partially filled with injection liquid and sealed with a partially perforated stopper, which for-ms a tight piston inside the cylindrical container. A hub is provided on the container for mounting a hypodermic needle. Ordinarily, a sealed cap encases the connecting hub, which must be removed prior to the mounting Y of the hypodermic needle.

It is well-known that many injectable preparations are unstable when dissolved or suspended in their respective vehicles and consequently, the components must be kept separated in the containers during storage, and mixed immediately prior to use. Many preparations are available only in the dry state and when used are dissolved or suspended in a solvent or suspending agent with a controlled pH for minimal deterioration. With preparations of this type, the drug is commonly sold in separate ampules, each containing one of the sterile ingredients or components. One of the components must be liquid. Ordinarily, these ampules are closed by means of a membrane, which is pierced by a hypodermic needle. In order to use the medicament, the needle is inserted into the ampule containing the liquid and a measured quantity is' aspirated into the syringe. The needle is then withdrawn and inserted into the other ampule into which the contents of the syringe are ejected, whereupon the needle is ordinarily pulled out again to permit agitation of the ampule so that an adequate mixing of the ingredients can occur. The needle is again inserted into the latter ampule and the desired quantity of mixture is aspirated into the syringe for parenteral administration. As is obvious, this method offers an even greater risk of contamination of infection.

Therefore, there have been proposed a number of syringes having m-ulti-compartments, separated by a partition so that the various ingredients can be combined prior to use. These prior devices often leaked during storage and transportation. Further, these prior devices often were of a complex design and expensive to manufacture, and impractical to fill.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a hypodermic syringe, wherein two or more ingredients are separately stored prior to use and mixed immediately prior to injection, with no danger of contamination or infection.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a syringe containing an injectable liquid, which can eject a plurality of metered individual doses.

A further object is to providea syringe which may be preloaded with a liquid and a soluble granular or ice powdered material under asceptic conditions and maintained separately until ready to use and then mixed within the syringe immediately prior to the injection.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a hypodermic syringe containing a powdered pharmaceutical ingredient, which is prevented by suitable valve means from entering the hypodermic needle attached thereto, either in its powdered form or in its injectable form, but which automatically opens in response to the pressure created by the operation of the syringe.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a syringe which accomplishes all of the above, is simple and economical to manufacture, is readily loaded and assembled, and is so inexpensive that it may be used as a disposable unit.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is an exploded elevational view showing one form of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an elevational cross-sectional view showing the embodiment of FIGURE 1 in assembled position;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view of the valve portion of the device shown in FIG- URE 2; and

FIGURE 4 is a front elevational view, partially broken away in cross section, showing another embodiment of the present invention. 7

Referring now to FIGURES 1-3 of the drawing, there is shown a hypodermic syringe 10 made in accordance with the present invention. Syringe 10 has an outer tubular member or barrel 12, which has a closed bottom portion 14 and an open upper portion 15 having a flange thereabout. Bottom portion 14 is provided with means to releasably receive or be connected to a hypodermic needle or cannula, such as a downwardly extending nipple or boss 16 integrally attached thereto. Boss 16 has an opening or passageway 18 therein communicating with the interior of barrel 12. As shown in FIGURE 2, the inner surface of bottom portion 14 is tapered downwardly toward the entrance'to opening 18. Releasably mounted within opening 18 is a hypodermic needle 20. Needle 20 may be fixedly mounted in position, if desired, such as cemented in place. Advantageously, needle 20 is usually sealed when mounted within a removable casing or sheath 22. Casing 22 is removably mounted about the outer peripheral surface of boss 16 by means of a mating rib and groove relationship. Casing 22 may be retained solely by friction, if rough handling is avoided.

Slidably mounted within barrel or tubular member 12 is tubular plunger 26. Plunger 26 has an outer diameter to freely slide within barrel 12. Plunger 26 is reduced in diameter at its lower section 28, which is closed at its lower end, shown at 29. interconnecting plunger 26 and reduced section 28 is an interiorly directed transverse flange 31. Reduced section 28 has a transverse port or opening 30 therethrough, communicating with the interior or chamber of plunger 26, and the interior or chamber of barrel 12. Removably mounted about reduced portion 28 is a resilient and flexible sleeve 32, which forms a piston skirt. Advantageously, sleeve 32 is made of rubber or plastic or other suitable material and snugly engages the outer peripheral surface of reduced section 28, and closes opening 30 by forming an hermetic seal. Sleeve 32 has a thickness slightly smaller than the depth of transverse flange 31 as seen best in FIGURE 2. The outer peripheral surface of reduced section 28 of plunger 26 has a pair of radially extending annular ribs 34 and 36. Rib 36 is adjacent flange 31 and is preferably inwardly tapered facing flange 31. Ribs 34 and 36 are of a depth to extend sleeve 32 outwardly a sufiicient distance to sealingly engage the inner walls of barrel 12.

As shown in FIGURE 2, disposed about inner wall of barrel 12 adjacent upper portion 15 is an interiorly directed annular rib 38, which matingly engages groove 40 circumferentially disposed about the outer surface of plunger 26. Rib 38 and groove 40 are so disposed to releasably hold plunger 26 in a fixed assembled position within barrel 12 and prevent accidental displacement or non-intentional relative movement between barrel 12 and plunger 26. Rib 38 snaps into and out of groove 40 in response to the actuating force of the user. Rib 38 and groove 40 also form an effective airand dust-seal to aid in maintaining sterility during shelf life of the assembled unit.

Plunger 26 has an opening 41 at its end opposite reduced section 28, which is surrounded by an outwardly directed flange 43. Opening 41 is closed by a cap or plug 42, as best seen in FIGURES 1 and 2. Cap 42 has a cylindrical skirt portion 44, which sealingly engages the inner walls of plunger 26. Cap 42 has a disc portion 46 transverse to and integrally connected with skirt portion 44 and overlying flange 43, as best seen in FIGURE 2. Cap 42 is preferably made of a resilient material such as plastic or rubber. Passing through disc portion 46 is an opening 48 communicating with the interior of plunger 26. Advantageously, cap 42 is enclosed by a metal foil cover 50, which is turned under flange 43 of plunger 26 to hold cap 42 in position and maintain sterility. Cover 50 has a series of perforations 52 disposed in a circle about opening 48 in cap 42, so as to easily remove the portion of cover 50, designated as 53, overlying opening 48, to allow opening 48 to communicate with the atmosphere prior to use of syringe 10.

The embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGURES l and 2 keeps the dry ingredient 54 and liquid ingredient 56 of the injectable solution separate until ready to use. The dry ingredient 54 is fed into and kept in the chamber of barrel 12, and may be soluble or insoluble granular or powdered material. To prevent ingredient 54 from falling into needle and possibly to clog needle 20 or interfere with proper mixing, a flat disc 58 is transversely mounted within the chamber of barrel 12 adjacent its bottom 14. Disc 58 is made of a flexible, resilient material and is aflixed within barrel 12 in any suitable manner, such as by a force fit or adhesive. As shown, disc 58 is held in a groove within the inner wall of barrel 12. Disc 58 has a slit or perforation 60 therein overlying the opening in bottom 14 of barrel 12, which does not permit the powder ingredient 54 or the liquid injectable solution to pass, unless sulficient pressure is exerted on disc 58 from inside ibarrel 12. Slit 60 is normally in the closed position. Disc 58 flexes downwardly when a predetermined minimum pressure is applied, such as by intentional actuation of plunger 26, thus permitting the injectable fluid to flow into the needle during administration. The tapered portion of bottom 14 aids in the flexing of disc 58.

Operation of the syringe shown in FIGURE 2 is as follows:

Syringe 10 is first loaded by introducing ingredient or component 54 into barrel 12.- Disc 58 prevents any of component 54 from passing into needle 20. Plunger 26 with sleeve 32 mounted is then inserted within barrel 12 and snap ring or rib 38 snaps into groove 40. Liquid ingredient 56 is added to plunger 26 through opening 41. Sleeve 32 seals port 30 preventing any intermixing of the ingredients 54 and 56. After ingredient 56 is added, cap 42 is positioned on plunger 26 closing opening 41. Cover 50 is added maintaining the ingredients sterile. After the syringe has been loaded, it may be stored untilneeded.

At the time of use, disc 53 is removed from cover 50 and plunger 26 is withdrawn. The withdrawal of plunger 26 creates a reduction of pressure within the chamber of barrel 12 causing sleeve 32 to radially expand, as shown best in FIGURE 3. The larger positive atmospheric pressure within the chamber of plunger 26 forces all of the liquid ingredient 56 through port 30 into barrel 12. After plunger 26 has been withdrawn to its open position, shown in shadow in FIGURE 2, the contents of syringe 10 is thoroughly mixed by agitation.

When suflicient mixing has occurred, the operator uses syringe 10 in the usual manner. Sheath 22 is removed and the needle inserted and plunger 26 is depressed. The downward movement of plunger 26 increases the pressure within ibarrel 12 below plunger bottom 29. This increase in pressure forces sleeve 32 into tighter engagement with the outer surface of reduced section 28 and creates an hermetic seal over port 30, making it impossible for any fluid in chamber 54 to reenter the plunger cavity. The increase in pressure also causes disc 58 to flex downwardly opening slit 60 allowing the admixed fluid to pass into and through needle 20 for suitable administration. Syringe 10 may now be discarded.

A further embodiment is shown in FIGURE 4. Here a syringe 70 has a barrel 72 and a plunger 74, similar in construction to barrel 12 and plunger 26, respectively, in FIGURE 2. Plunger 74 contains a quantity of injectable fluid 76 for a plurality of single doses. As shown, the bottom 78 of plunger 74 abuts the bottom 80 of barrel 72. The chamber of barrel 72 acts as a metering chamber into which flows a predetermined quantity of the injectable fluid 76 from the interior of plunger 74, i.e., a single dose. Plunger 74 is Withdrawn a predetermined distance, such as one of the graduation markers 82 on the outer surface of plunger 74. Each marker could be for a certain quantity of liquid, i.e., line 82, 1 cc.; line 84, 2 cc.; line 86, 3 cc., etc.

If syringe 70 is to be used to deliver a series of single injections, only one or two graduation lines need be inscribed on the outside of plunger 74, since plunger 74 is depressed to its rest position each time the metering chamber is emptied. For each injection a new needle 88 and sheath 90 can be mounted onto the bottom 80 of barrel 72. Since sleeve 92 seals port 94 in plunger 74 after each injection, the injectable fluid 76 in plunger 74 remains sterile during the use of syringe 70.

If desired, instead of cover 50 being used with the present invention, a piece of sterile gauze could be inserted within opening 48 in cap 42 to maintain purity and sterility of the contents of the plunger. Also, to form a seal over opening 48, a piece of gummed paper or a removable seal, not shown, could be used. Additionally, a selfsealing puncture in the plug, or a disc similar in nature and construction to disc 58 could cover and seal opening 41 in plunger 26.

While the drawing shows a needle already mounted on the barrel body, the syringe could be shipped with a cap closing and sealing the opening on the barrel and the needle would then be affixed when the syringe is readied for use.

While one of the ingredients of the injectable drug was shown as a solid, all of the ingredients could be liquid.

Further, the sealing sleeve forming the piston skirt was shown as a uniform cylindrical sleeve, or tubing which could be extruded. It also could be molded and have sealing ribs about its outer surface which would engage the inner walls of the barrel.

Also, while the drawings show a cannula in the form of a hypodermic needle, other cannulas and other means of attaching them to the barrel could be used. A mastitis tip, for example, could be used and integrally attached to the barrel.

While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it is not intended to be limited to the exact details of the construction shown, but it is intended to embrace other changes and modifications as come within the purview of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A hypodermic syringe comprising a tubular barrel having a chamber with a closed lower end and an open upper end, a sealed hypodermic needle mounted on and projecting from said lower end of said barrel, a passageway interconnecting said barrel chamber and said needle, a cylindrical plunger having a chamber with a closed lower end and an open upper end, said plunger being slidably disposed axially within said barrel chamber and having a transverse port through its peripheral wall adjacent its lower end and communicating with said barrel chamber, a resilient sleeve mounted about the outer peripheral surface of said plunger adjacent its lower end and sealing said port, said sleeve slidably engaging the walls of said barrel chamber and radially expanding adjacent its lower edge in response to a decrease in pressure in said barrel chamber allowing fluid flow from said plunger chamber through said port and into said barrel chamber and sealing said port in response to an increase in pressure in said barrel chamber.

2. A hypodermic syringe comprising a tubular barrel having a chamber with a closed discharge end and an open upper end, said discharge end being sealed and adapted to receive a hypodermic needle, a cylindrical plunger having a chamber with a closed lower end and an open upper end, said plunger being slidably disposed axially within said barrel chamber and having a transverse port through its peripheral wall adjacent its lower end, a resilient sleeve mounted about the outer peripheral surface of said plunger adjacent its lower end and sealing said port, an annular portion of said sleeve above said port slidably engaging the walls of said barrel chamber and forming a piston head, said sleeve from the lower end of said plunger to said port expanding in response to a decrease in pressure in said barrel chamber allowing fluid flow from said plunger chamber through said port and into said barrel chamber and sealing said port in response to an increase in pressure in said barrel chamber.

3. A syringe as set forth in claim 2, wherein said seal on said discharge end of said barrel comprises a resilient membrane closing said discharge end, said membrane being perforated and so dimensioned that said perforation remains closed to seal said discharge end from passage of liquid or powdered substances until subjected to positive or negative pressure within said barrel chamber, created by movement of said plunger.

4. A hypodermic syringe comprising a tubular barrel having a chamber with a closed discharge end and an open upper end, said discharge end being sealed and adapted to receive a hypodermic needle, a cylindrical plunger having a chamber with a closed lower end and an open upper end, said plunge-r being slidably disposed axially within said barrel chamber and having a transverse port through its peripheral wall adjacent its lower end, said lower end of said plunger having an annular rib above said port extending radially outwardly, and a resilient sleeve mounted about the outer peripheral surface of said plunger adjacent its lower end and sealing said port, said rib extending said sleeve radially outwardly for slidably engaging the walls of said barrel chamber, said sleeve adapted to move radial-1y outwardly from said port to said lower end of said plunger in response to movement of said plunger away from the discharge end of said barrel to permit flow of liquid from said plunge-r chamber through said port into said barrel chamber, said sleeve adapted to seal said port in response to movement of said I plunger toward said discharge end of said barrel to discharge the contents of said barrel chamber through said discharge end.

5. A hypodermic syringe comprising a tubular barrel having a chamber with a closed discharge end and an open upper end, said discharge end being sealed and adapted to receive a hypodermic needle, an annular rib radially and interiorly directed about said barrel chamber adjacent said upper end, a cylindrical plunger having a chamber with a closed lower end and an open upper end, said plunger being reciprocally mounted within said barrel chamber and having a transverse port through its peripheral wall adjacent its lower end, a groove circumferentially disposed about the outer surface of said plunger between its upper and lower ends, said groove being adapted to mate with said rib and releasably hold said plunger in a predetermined position within said barrel chamber until ready to use and form a seal for the interior of said barrel chamber, and a resilient sleeve mounted about the outer peripheral surface of said plunger adjacent its lower end and sealing said port, an annular portion of said sleeve above said port slidably engaging the walls of said barrel chamber and forming a piston head, said sleeve from the lower end of said plunger to said port expanding in response to a decrease in pressure in said barrel chamber allowing fluid flow from said plunger chamber through said port and into said barrel chamber and sealing said port in response to an increase in'pressure in said barrel chamber.

6. A hypodermic syringe comprising a tubular barrel having a chamber with a closed discharge end and an open upper end, said discharge end being sealed and adapted to receive a hypodermic needle, a cylindrical plunger having a chamber with a closed lower end and an open upper end, said plunger being slidably disposed axially within said barrel chamber and having a transverse port through its peripheral wall adjacent its lower end, a resilient sleeve mounted about the outer peripheral surface of said plunger adjacent its lower end and sealing said port, an annular portion of said sleeve above said port slidably engaging the walls of said barrel chamber and forming a piston head, said sleeve from the lower end of said plunger to said port expanding in response to a decrease in pressure in said barrel chamber allowing fluid flow from said plunger chamber through said port and into said barrel chamber and sealing said port in response to an increase in pressure in said barrel chamber, and indicia markings on said plunger and said barrel corresponding to a predetermined quantity of fluid flow from said plunger chamber through said port into said barrel chamber in response to movement of said plunger away from said barrel closed end from its fully inserted position to alignment of said markings, whereby a downward movement of said plunger ejects said predetermined quantity of fluid from said discharge end.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,563,627 12/1925 Hein 128--218 1,712,070 5/1929 Cressler 128-218 3,076,456 2/1963 Hunt 128218 RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner.

R. E. MORGAN, Examiner. 

1. A HYPODERMIC SYRINGE COMPRISING A TUBULAR BARREL HAVING A CHAMBER WITH A CLOSED LOWER END AND AN OPEN UPPER END, A SEALED HYPODERMIC NEEDLE MOUNTED ON AND PROJECTING FROM SAID LOWER END OF SAID BARREL, A PASSAGEWAY INTERCONNECTING SAID BARREL CHAMBER AND SAID NEEDLE, A CYLINDRICAL PLUNGER HAVING A CHAMBER WITH A CLOSED LOWER END AND AN OPEN UPPER END, SAID PLUGNER BEING SLIDABLY DISPOSED AXIALLY WITHIN SAID BARREL CHAMBER AND HAVING A TRANSVERSE PORT THROUGH ITS PERIPHERAL WALL ADJACENT ITS LOWER END AND COMMUNICATING WITH SAID BARREL CHAMBER, A RESILIENT SLEEVE MOUNTD ABOUT THE OUTER PERIPHERAL SURFACE OF SAID PLUNGER ADJACENT ITS LOWER END AND SEALING SAID PORT, SAID SLEEVE SLIDABLY ENGAGING THE WALLS OF SAID BARREL CHAMBER AND RADIALLY EXPANDING ADJACENT ITS LOWER EDGE IN RESPONSE TO A DECREASE IN PRESSURE IN SAID BARREL CHAMBER ALLOWING FLUID FLOW FROM SAID PLUNGER CHAMBER THROUGH SAID PORT AND INTO SAID BARREL CHAMBER AND SEALING SAID PORT IN RESPONSE TO AN INCREASE IN PRESSURE IN SAID BARREL CHAMBER. 